Debra Maggart, Susan Lynn want Tenn. to stop health care reform bill

Reps. Debra Maggart, R-Hendersonville, and Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet, say the state’s attorney general should take legal action to stop the federal health care reform bill because it would expand Medicaid. They say such an expansion without proper funding would be a violation of state sovereignty.

“Under this bill, Tennessee would be forced to expand our Medicaid program, potentially costing the citizens of the state $1.4 billion dollars in additional state taxpayer funds annually. Such an increase would place a great burden on the citizens of this state. It is clear by the wording of the legislation itself that not every state would face a similar and equal burden.

“We see this as a violation of the equal protection of the law, an affront to our sovereignty, and a breach of the U.S. Constitution.”

Democratic Gov. Phil Bredesen has criticized the health care bill for expanding Medicaid. But he’s said it could as much as $1.4 billion over the bill’s first five years.

He’s also not given any indication that he’d be willing to challenge the bill in court.